Student Success Provides Tools, Programs to Aid in MTSU Academic Accomplishments

Middle Tennessee State University’s Office of Student Success provides a multitude of options to help students stay ahead of the game in their academic efforts.

Two ways to achieve progress are through the annual Scholars Academy for a target group of incoming freshmen to kick off the fall semester and Supplemental Instruction, an opportunity for students to receive added help from their peers during the fall and spring semesters.

The Office of Student Success is responsible for facilitating, coordinating and leading the implementation of MTSU’s Quest for Student Success. A national leader in student success, the office works to improve MTSU’s retention and graduation rates through enhanced advising, free tutoring and more.

Scholars Academy

Assisted by 34 peer mentors including Student Government Association President Michai Mosby and two coordinators, nearly 120 freshmen participated in the Scholars Academy Summer Institute two weeks before the semester began.

They had a full slate of daily activities — a combination of academic and fun — with a highlight being a trip to the National Museum of African American Music in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Students were provided with sessions on time management, study skills and received an introduction to all the services and campus resources.

“Scholars Academy was very successful this summer,” said Michelle Arnold, interim associate vice provost for Student Success. “I have heard from about half of the students that were new scholars (freshmen) and they have expressed how prepared they felt when school started.

“They said Scholars Academy provided them with connections and resources that they did not feel they would have had otherwise. They mentioned Scholars Academy was like a family for them as for many, this was their first time away from home.”

An MTSU alumna, Arnold returned to her alma mater following a stint in private school secondary education. She said their office is in the process of doing a seven-week check-in as students prepare for midterm exams and priority registration for the spring semester.

“Our goal is that every student feels comfortable and have a sense of belonging on campus,” she said. “We want to acclimate them to MTSU and make sure they have what they need to be successful. Overall, I believe we achieved that goal.”

Supplemental Instruction

Cornelia Wills, director of Student Success, calls Supplemental Instruction “a cousin of tutoring” — a peer-assisted study and learning method.” It is provided free to students in historically challenging courses at MTSU. It is a nonremedial approach to learning and understanding that significantly increases student performance.

Sessions are organized and led by a professionally trained Supplemental Instruction leader, typically a student who has already taken the course to which they are assigned, and who has demonstrated mastery of the course material.

“These leaders work to create a space where students can meet to increase comprehension of course content, review and discuss important concepts and ideas, develop and share study strategies, study for exams and more, in an open, interactive and respectful environment,” Wills said.

“Supplemental Instruction works,” Wills added. “Participants typically score a half to full letter grade higher than nonparticipants, depending on their attendance and on the course.”

Hundreds of students potentially can benefit from Supplemental Instruction each semester. Biology (Human Anatomy and Physiology II), general chemistry, history of recording industry, precalculus and calculus, Survey of U.S. History I and 2 and the physiology of exercise are courses that offer selected sections of supplemental instruction.

Wills said Supplemental Instruction “is going well so far this fall. Not surprising, the higher attendance numbers are in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, in biology and chemistry, and a section of (second-year) history also has high-usage numbers.”

Approaching fall break, Wills said near 400 students have attended Supplemental Instruction sessions.

In August, two-day Supplemental Instruction leader training in the Academic Classroom Building “went extremely well,” Wills said. “New this year, training was conducted by staff from our International Center for Supplemental Instruction. This was a big deal. All SI leaders were required to attend and commented on how helpful it was for them.”

Rick Sluder is vice provost of Student Success and dean for University College. Jonell Hinsey is also an interim associate vice provost for Student Success. The Office of Student Success is located in Peck Hall Room 142.

For more information, call 615-494-8650.